The 81-year-old, who plays Ken Barlow in the soap, was arrested on Thursday after he attended a police station by appointment.

He was released on bail and is due to appear at Preston magistrates' court on Friday.

The offences are alleged to have been committed in the Manchester area between 1965 and 1968 on four girls aged between 12 and 16.

A spokeswoman for Lancashire Police said: "Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, an 81-year-old man has this evening been charged with five offences of indecent assault.

"William Roache was arrested this morning after attending a police station in the county by appointment. He has been bailed to appear before magistrates in Preston on Friday.

"The offences are alleged to have been committed in the Manchester area between 1965 and 1968 and to involve four girls aged between 12 and 16 years at the time. No further details will be released at this time."

Mr Roache, who lives in Wilmslow, Cheshire, was previously arrested on May 1 and charged with two offences of rape.

Those offences are alleged to have been committed in Haslingden in 1967 and on a girl aged 15.

The actor appeared at Preston Crown Court on May 14.

On May 2, after he was charged with the initial offences, he said in a statement: "I am astounded and deeply horrified by the extraordinary events of the last 24 hours.

"I strenuously deny the allegations and will now focus my full attention on fighting to preserve my innocence in the challenging times ahead.

"I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all those people who have offered me their support and good wishes at this difficult time."